Jim Huffman in 2010 OR Senate Debates

On Abortion:
Pro-choice but Roe v. Wade was a bad decision

Wyden charged Huffman had contradictory positions on abortion. Huffman told people in Western Oregon that he was pro-choice on abortion, said Wyden, but in Eastern Oregon, Huffman said the Supreme Court made a bad decision in legalizing abortion with its
1973 landmark ruling on Roe vs. Wade. Huffman replied that was not a contradiction.

"You can be pro-choice and still believe Roe vs. Wade is a bad decision," said Huffman, who taught constitutional law.

On Budget & Economy:
No $2M spending on exotic ant research

When pressed in one question to name a single change he would make to address the nation's climbing debt, Huffman turned to a statement from one of his television ads. He said he wouldn't spend $2 million on exotic ant research as Wyden voted to do.
The Oregonian's PolitiFact researchers concluded that statement was false, noted Wyden. "I did not vote for anything that mentioned ants in the bill," he said.

On Corporations:
Moratorium on new federal regulations on businesses

In his opening remarks, Huffman wasted no time linking Wyden to Oregon's long-term unemployment problems. "It is no coincidence that during (Wyden's) term, Oregon unemployment is above the national average," Huffman said.

The two went on to outline
their plans to foster small businesses in the face of a lousy economy. Huffman said that he believes in a moratorium on new federal regulations on businesses, a payroll tax holiday and an extension of the Bush tax cuts would help small businesses survive
the downturn. "I believe small business is the most important employer in this state," he said.

Wyden pointed to his bipartisan work on a bill to help small businesses finance equipment they need to grow and his support of biomass as a job machine that
would greatly benefit Southern Oregon. Wyden criticized the Obama administration's lumping biomass in with fossil fuels in terms of pollutants. "(Biomass) is a clean energy source for our state," he said.

On Environment:
End restrictions for logging federal timber land

Huffman favors restraining government so the private sector can flourish and create jobs. He argued for extending tax breaks up for review in Congress, an end to stimulus spending, a balanced budget amendment, free trade and an ease on business
regulations and on restrictions for logging federal timber land.

Wyden argued that tax reform, timber land use compromises and government efforts to foster more green industries promise to give Oregon's economy a boost.

On Social Security:
Option of putting payroll taxes in a private account

Huffman argued that [Wyden's] proposals are too small when the country faces double-digit unemployment and a terribly slow recovery. He said Wyden's great mistake was voting for the stimulus bill because those funds will never be returned to taxpayers.

Huffman said the ad was full of lies and half-truths. He said he supported the bank bailout because it was the best of a batch of bad policies the federal government was considering at the start of the financial crisis.
He said he doesn't support privatizing Social Security, but believes people should be given the option of putting payroll taxes in a private account.

On Abortion:
Supports abortion rights, but no federal funding

Huffman, who has taught constitutional law for 37 years at Lewis & Clark Law School, where he also served as dean, says he's socially moderate and fiscally conservative.
He supports abortion rights, though no federal funding for abortion, and civil unions for gay couples. He says he differs most fundamentally from Wyden in his view that government should have a limited role in American lives.

Source: Oregon Live coverage of 2010 Oregon Senate Debate
Oct 8, 2010

On Budget & Economy:
Supports balanced budget amendment

Huffman says he differs most fundamentally from Wyden in his view that government should have a limited role in American lives. He opposed federal stimulus spending, and favors extension of federal tax cuts for both the rich and middle class,
a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution, repeal or major overhaul of the 2009 health care bill and fewer restrictions on economic uses of federal lands.

Source: Oregon Live coverage of 2010 Oregon Senate Debate
Oct 8, 2010

On Environment:
Upset at impact on rural communities from logging ban

Huffman says the federal government cripples small businesses with uncertainty over taxes and has crushed Oregon's rural economy by barring logging on 80% of federal public lands, which make up 53% of the state. "Nothing has gotten me more upset in the
6 months I have spent traveling around the state than seeing the impact on the rural communities of what the federal government has done with the natural resources in this state," he said.

Wyden says Huffman's opposition to complicated legislation he'
worked out among warring interests over the use of forests in Eastern Oregon defines how the two candidates differ. "He doesn't want people to work to find common ground," Wyden said.

Huffman said he opposes Wyden's forestry plan because it forges
agreements with some, but not all, of the parties involved. Some mills, e.g., would not benefit from the Eastside Forest Plan, and he questions whether it would create any more jobs. "I'm not against collaboration," he said. "We need to be realistic."